Chapter 742: What Kind of Life Have You Lived?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Tae Su stared in disbelief, "You're joking in a situation like this?"

He could only assume this was Geom Mugeuk's final, desperate shred of pride. He was likely trying to mask the guilt of his surrender with a jest. Even so, he found he couldn't bring himself to hate the man, this strange fellow who bluffed about having a thousand horses.

Geom Mugeuk asked, a smile playing on his lips, "Was that heart of yours stolen with just a single word?"

Tae Su answered, his voice heavy with the knowledge that being dragged away meant certain death, "It was the promise to save your life. I don't know why I want to save you. I guess I just took a liking to you, but I have one favor to ask. If you ever meet my father, please tell him I was sorry."

It was this certainty that compelled him to reveal his honest feelings. His greatest regret was dying without seeing his father again, without being able to take back his last hurtful words.

"What bullshit." A harsh voice cut through the air. The Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit stepped forward, cold killing intent flowing from his eyes, "Do you think I'll spare them just because you tell me to?"

Geom Mugeuk stated calmly, "If you kill them, I will never tell you the location of the Grave of Swords."

A sneer formed on the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit's lips, "Do you think I've never tortured anyone before? They all talk big like you at first, but there hasn't been a single one who didn't open their mouth. You seem confident you'll be different. Before that, I'll kill them all, one by one, right in front of you."

His threat was a chilling testament to why he was called the source of myriad evils.

Tae Su felt a surge of panic. This wasn't what he had wanted at all.

The Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit's voice boomed with haughty confidence, certain of his ability to slaughter anyone who dared to emerge, "All of you in the carriage, crawl out now! Before I blow the whole thing away."

TAK.

The carriage door opened and the Flower Sword Supreme stepped out. She wore no fancy makeup or beautiful clothes, yet the moment the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit saw her, a flicker of lust crossed his eyes. Among the countless evil deeds he had committed, lewd acts were certainly not absent.

He rasped, "It's been a long time since my lust was stirred. I'll kill you last."

SHRING.

The One Flower Sword was already being drawn from its sheath, but she managed to stop her hand just in time. That's right, she reminded herself, I can't lose the bet because of a guy like this.

CHAK.

Sheathing the blade, the Flower Sword Supreme smiled at Geom Mugeuk, "It seems the two medicines you gave me were effective. To think they can even stir the lust of such an ugly old man."

Geom Mugeuk grinned brightly, "Would the result have been any different if you hadn't taken them?"

At his words, she let out a pleasant laugh.

TAK.

The opposite carriage door flew open with an irritable crack. From the darkness within, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's annoyed voice drifted out. "You disgust me. I don't even want to lay a hand on you."

Geom Mugeuk and the Flower Sword Supreme both knew he was furious, and they knew exactly why.

Finally, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon emerged from the carriage, his cold gaze locking onto the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit. "Just kill yourself."

A curse or a surge of killing intent should have been the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit's response. Instead, as he stared at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, his eyes widened in shock. "You are…!"

The Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit recognized him. They had met before. He stammered, his voice trembling, "Why are you here?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon ignored the question and asked coldly, "You don't want to? Then I'll kill you myself."

He strode forward, and terrifying demonic qi began to rage from his body, washing over the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit. In that instant, the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit raised a palm and struck the crown of his own head.

KWAJIK!

His skull shattered and he collapsed on the spot, a lifeless heap on the ground. He had actually killed himself.

A scream escaped Tae Su's lips before he could stop it, "Aargh!"

What in the world did I just see? The Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit, that infamous villain, took his own life, but why?

The man he'd heard stories about would fight with every despicable method imaginable, even resorting to the Self Destruction Art if all else failed.

So who in the world is that old man that the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit would kill himself without even trying to fight?

Geom Mugeuk said, backing far away from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, "Whoa, please stay over there. What kind of life have you lived?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon licked his lips while the Flower Sword Supreme laughed, "He was quite hot-blooded in his day. He was once so fearsome that even a man like the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit trembled before him."

The Blade Demon muttered, "That temper of his is all gone now."

Geom Mugeuk laughed and finished his thought, "I like the current you a hundred times better, so please don't revive it."

Meanwhile, Tae Su cautiously approached the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit's corpse. He wanted to confirm the man was dead but was too scared to even shake the body, half expecting it to jump up at any moment.

He asked, his voice dazed as if he had lost his mind, "Why did he kill himself?"

Geom Mugeuk offered, "Because he was scared?"

The answer only fueled another conspiracy theory in Tae Su's mind, "You're all in on this, aren't you? You're acting to get my treasure map, right?"

He could already picture it, the moment he entered the Grave of Swords, everyone who had supposedly died would appear, standing in a line to mock him.

Geom Mugeuk said, looking to one side and waving, "Looks like there's another actor over there."

At his gesture, a masked figure who had been hiding far away revealed himself. The man who appeared, his eyes as surprised as Tae Su's, was Ji Han. Geom Mugeuk had expected him to use his movement arts and flee, but instead, Ji Han launched himself in their direction, landing neatly in front of them.

Just like that day, Geom Mugeuk was looking at him and smiling. To his left stood the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with his arms crossed, and to his right, the Flower Sword Supreme with her calm eyes. These were the people who could make the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit kill himself without even drawing a sword.

Ji Han bowed his head in greeting and then revealed his identity, "I am Ji Han, Commander of the Soul Chasing Corps of the Evil King Sect."

As he spoke, he removed his mask, revealing a face that matched his calm eyes.

Geom Mugeuk asked, "The Soul Chasing Commander? Are you the one who applied the Soul Tracking Incense?"

"Yes, that is my job."

"Why did you come to me instead of running away?"

Ji Han glanced at the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit's corpse and sighed, "The guard captain for this mission, Flame Dragon Commander Cheon Daewoong, will never believe the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit killed himself without a fight. He's always disliked me, so he'll frame me, saying I colluded with the enemy to kill him."

Someone had to take responsibility for the deaths of the Four Blood Wind Swordsmen and the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit, and he knew Cheon Daewoong would find a way to pin the blame on him.

He then revealed his other reason, "For over ten years, I've been courteous to someone, and because of that, I was able to obtain a piece of information. He never sold your information, and he advised me to leave. He said if I couldn't leave, I should run toward death."

He was speaking of the information broker, Old Song.

Ji Han stared directly at Geom Mugeuk, "Following his advice, I intend to bet my life and future."

He earnestly hoped that this death standing before him was a generous one, a death with the capacity for acceptance. The entire time he spoke, a part of him thought this was a crazy act, entrusting himself to someone without even knowing who they were.

Geom Mugeuk quietly studied Ji Han. His calm eyes didn't seem to fit with the Evil King Sect, "Why did you join the Evil King Sect?"

Ji Han explained, "I was born with a sensitive nose. I could distinguish every scent even when they were mixed together, and I could follow any trail no matter how far it went. I liked the various scents of the world. Then I met my master and learned the art of researching and tracking them. My master belonged to the Evil King Sect. I was young, so I didn't know what kind of place it was, and back then, it wasn't so infamous."

Geom Mugeuk could feel the truth in his words, "Have you ever killed an innocent person?"

"My missions were mostly tracking down and capturing those who fled the main sect. In that process, I have unavoidably killed those who fought to the death."

"Other than that?"

"None."

A talent who could handle Soul Tracking Incense was definitely someone the Ghost Shadow Squad needed, "What is it you want?"

"Please take me as your subordinate."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme looked at each other. First Tae Su, and now this man named Ji Han.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon conveyed through telepathy, "Why does everyone like the Young Cult Leader so much?"

The Flower Sword Supreme replied, "Ask yourself."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his head away with a huff.

Geom Mugeuk did not accept the request right away, "Do you know who I am?"

Ji Han said, "You're the person someone who has thought well of me for ten years told me to throw my lot in with. I trust his judgment, and I have nowhere to return to."

In truth, there was one more reason. Having researched scents for so long, he would sometimes smell a certain imaginary scent from people. If Cheon Daewoong gave off a stench, this man gave off a good scent.

Finally, Geom Mugeuk made his decision, "Alright. I accept."

Ji Han was surprised by the ready acceptance. He hadn't expected it to be so easy and had assumed all sorts of conditions would be set, demanding he prove his loyalty.

"From now on, you are my person."

"!"

He had used the expression "my person," not "subordinate."

Ji Han asked, "Do you trust me?"

Geom Mugeuk shook his head, "I don't know who you are, so I can't trust you yet."

"Then why me?"

Geom Mugeuk asked, recalling how Ji Han had given up after three of his men died, "When you first pursued me, why did you stop the chase?"

"I judged that if we went further, all my subordinates would die."

Geom Mugeuk said, "I trust that wise judgment. I trust the heart that cares for its subordinates."

Cheon Daewoong had mocked him for that very decision, scorning him as a coward for returning after only three men had died, yet Geom Mugeuk was saying his judgment on that same fact was excellent.

Ji Han hesitated no longer. He performed a polite clasped hands greeting, showing his profound respect, "Ji Han greets his new Liege. I will serve you with loyalty."

"Your ability is more important than any other. I'll be counting on you from now on."

The sorrow of his past, of being treated like a hunting dog within the organization, washed over him, and the rims of his eyes turned red. Those were the words he had wanted to hear for so long.

Watching this, Tae Su suddenly felt a pang of envy. In that moment, he realized he too had wanted to do work that was acknowledged by someone. He thought that perhaps the reason he was always angry and dissatisfied wasn't his father's rule to only steal from the wicked, but because his work could never be openly acknowledged, but now, right before his eyes, someone was changing his own destiny, showing that it was something that could be altered if one tried.

Ji Han looked at Tae Su and said, "I can't completely erase the Soul Tracking Incense on that man's hands, but I can make it fainter. That should buy us some time to shake off any pursuers."

Even without him, the other subordinates of the Soul Chasing Corps would be on their trail.

Geom Mugeuk commanded, "Do it."

Ji Han took out several small bottles from his robes and poured their contents onto Tae Su's hands in sequence.

Geom Mugeuk joked, "Looks like you won't have to cut off your hands now."

Tae Su beamed with joy. He had been feeling deeply uneasy, as if his own hands had become shackles for everyone.

Geom Mugeuk then turned to Ji Han, "Lead the way."

"To where, sir?"

The place Geom Mugeuk wanted to go was entirely unexpected, "To where the Flame Dragon Commander is."

"!"

"He's the one who tormented and tried to kill my person, so I will kill him."

Ji Han was taken aback. He could tell this young man was being sincere and that he could really kill Cheon Daewoong.

Tae Su, however, jumped in surprise and protested, "You want us to strike an Evil King Sect martial artist first? We can't do that!"

Geom Mugeuk retorted, "Didn't you hear the information broker? If you want to live, throw yourself into death!"

While Tae Su tried to stop him out of fear, Ji Han tried to stop him for a different reason, "You must not kill him."

"The reason?"

Ji Han explained, "If he fails to retrieve the treasure map this time, he'll be in big trouble anyway. Instead, if you kill him now, the Evil King Sect will start to get seriously involved. I believe it's the right choice to keep a fool in the enemy camp alive."

Geom Mugeuk's expression turned pleased at Ji Han's correct judgment, "I will follow your will. Instead, you will have to die."

"!"

Not only Ji Han, but Tae Su was also startled. Of course, Geom Mugeuk didn't really intend to kill him.

Geom Mugeuk asked, "The Soul Tracking Incense that was applied to the treasure map, do you happen to have any left?"

"Yes, I do."

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit's corpse, "Apply it to that man's hands."

Ji Han did as he was told, applying the incense to the corpse's hands.

Geom Mugeuk declared, "That bastard killed everyone here and stole the treasure map."

Only then did they understand his plan. He was going to frame the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit for intercepting the treasure map. Since the man had committed all sorts of evil deeds, no one would suspect a thing.

Geom Mugeuk let out a long whistle.

A moment later, a martial artist appeared. He was the messenger who relayed information between Geom Mugeuk and the All-Knowing Hall, a man skilled enough to be called a master of movement arts and stealth.

Geom Mugeuk ordered, "Take this corpse and head in the direction of Shaanxi. There will be people chasing you. Go as far as you can, leave the corpse, and get away. The Soul Tracking Incense is on the corpse's hands, so you must not touch them."

Shaanxi was in the opposite direction of Zhejiang, where they were currently headed.

"Yes, I understand."

The man tied the corpse's hands behind its back, hoisted the body onto his shoulders, and vanished. With a master of movement arts leaving first, there was no chance he would be caught by later pursuers.

Ji Han mused aloud, impressed by the excellent plan, "If he's found as a corpse with Soul Tracking Incense on his hands? They'll assume he fled all the way to Shaanxi, only to have the treasure map stolen by someone else before being killed."

The plan was brilliant. First, it would create confusion that the location on the map was in Shaanxi. Next, since Ji Han himself would be considered dead, he could avoid the organization's pursuit, and in the end, Cheon Daewoong would have to take responsibility for entrusting the matter to the Myriad Evils Mountain Hermit.

Tae Su asked cautiously, "Who was that person who took the corpse? Is he an escort? Or a porter?"

At the word escort, Ji Han looked at Tae Su with a puzzled expression.

Tae Su felt a useless sense of pride, thinking, I know more about this Geom Mugeuk than you do.

A pointless rivalry was already starting to emerge.

Ji Han, however, knew instinctively that Geom Mugeuk and his two companions were by no means people from an escort agency.

Geom Mugeuk said, "Well, let's get going too."

The two men sat on either side of him in the carriage.

Geom Mugeuk remarked, "One is a master of escape, and the other is a master of pursuit. This is a perfect balance, isn't it?"

Tae Su and Ji Han looked at each other. They had never dreamed that their relationship of pursuer and pursued would lead to them sitting side-by-side in the same carriage.

Geom Mugeuk declared, "Now, let's let the Evil King Sect bastards suffer to their heart's content in the wrong place."

The carriage began to race toward Zhejiang province once again.

"Let's go get some pork in five-spice sauce!"